Bartels v. Paulus

A petition to initiate a state measure was filed with the respondent, Secretary of State, pursuant to ORS 250.045. Copies of the prospective petition were sent to the Attorney General, ORS 250.065(2), and that official provided a ballot title for the measure, ORS 250.065(3). In preparing that title, the Attorney General was governed by ORS 250.035, which provides:

“(1) The ballot title of any measure to be initiated or referred shall consist of:

“(a) A caption of not more than 10 words by which the measure is commonly referred to;

“(b) A question of not more than 20 words which plainly states…